Zarkandar will be putting his Champion Hurdle aspirations on the line in Saturday's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (due off at 3.45), weather permitting of course.
Watch & bet on the Betfair Hurdle at Betfair
Last season's Triumph Hurdle winner has not been sighted since claiming his third victory in as many starts over jumps at Aintree in April, but is undoubtedly his trainer Paul Nicholls' No.1 hope for the Champion Hurdle. He's a single-figure price for that race behind red-hot favourite Hurricane Fly and considering how well the Triumph Hurdle form has been working out - the second and third Unaccompanied and Grandouet have both gone on to win top-class Graded races this season - he could be well-treated here on a mark of 151. The fact his trainer controls the weights with Brampour also helps his chances as he is set to carry 11st 1lb, but all that doesn't necessarily make him a betting proposition at a measly 3/1.
Granted, he's potentially the best horse in the race and he's almost certainly going to end up being rated higher than 151 in time, but this is very much a prep run for Cheltenham in March and he consequently won't be at his best. Nicholls himself admits the five-year-old is "bound to come on a ton for the run" and there is a sense that connections would be happy with a good effort in the first four of five. Certainly, that sort of performance wouldn't do his Champion Hurdle hopes any harm and it's worth remembering that Long Run was third on his reappearance last season, before going on to win the King George and Gold Cup. But as far as Saturday is concerned, Zarkandar is a favourite to take on and the fact he takes a big chunk out of the market ensures there is value to be had elsewhere.
It's fiercely competitive as you'd expect for a £150k race and I'm going to put up two against him, starting with SOLDATINO (12/1 bet365), who is also a past Triumph Hurdle winner, his victory coming two years ago on only his second start over hurdles. He's clearly had his problems since as he's been restricted to just three subsequent runs, including when running fifth in this race last season after a far from perfect preparation and under a big weight of 11st 8lb. His trainer Nicky Henderson has won this contest four times since 1998 and that record could have been better but for narrow defeats by Punjabi and Non So, so Soldatino must come into the reckoning with less weight to carry this year (10st 12lb) and Barry Geraghty booked to ride.
Trainer Gary Moore loves a crack at these rich handicap hurdles and won this race in consecutive years (2007/08) with Wingman and Heathcote, so anything he runs must be given maximum respect. His Via Galilei could run into a place at 33/1 but SIRE DE GRUGY looks the one to be on at 14/1 (Paddy Power) as this race has been the plan all season. A three-time winner in novice company last season, he arguably ran his best race when third in a Grade 2 at Aintree last April on ground that was too quick for him, and his recent comeback run at Chepstow will have put him spot on. With ground conditions to suit on Saturday and a nice racing weight of 10st 7lb he looks primed to go close.
Ladbroke Hurdle winner Raya Star (10/1 Coral) is not without hope with just 10st 3lb on his back, but the form of that Ascot race has taken a few knocks and he will have to improve again. Soldatino's stablemate Darlan (9/1 Totesport) arrives here unbeaten after four starts (one bumper, three novice hurdles), but doesn't look particularly well-handicapped on a mark of 146 given his overall form and while he won easily at Taunton last time, I didn't think there was as much in the locker as many people seemed to think. He was ridden by Geraghty that day and I suspect the Irishman might have had the choice between this one and Soldatino. Let's hope he's made the right decision!
Recommended Bets:-
Soldatino 2pts @ 12/1 bet365
Sire De Grugy 2pts @ 14/1 Paddy Power
